Implementation and validation of a fully digital data acquisition system at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory

For several decades, the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory (UKAL) has utilized a CAMAC-based analog data acquisition system that histograms the data in Ortec AD114 and AD4113 modules prior to writing to disk. In order to enable an enhanced set of analysis techniques that will enable a more thorough study of nuclei, the UKAL has begun development and implementation of a fully digital data data acquisition system utilizing CAEN V1730 and V1782 modules as well as the CAEN CoMPASS software. In addition to digitizing all detector signals, we have also undertaken digitization of time-of-flight spectra directly from time differences between the detector signals and the beam pulses that occur every 533 ns. The system further enables waveform capture, which utilize for offline pulse-shape discrimination and digital filtering. Current efforts to implement the system, the discussion of how the particular data acquisition needs of the UKAL have been met, and the validation of the digital system compared to the analog system will be presented.